272 RODENTIA. 



tliey have also been known to take refuge in a hole or 

 burrow when close pressed. We have seen a strong 

 Hare, surrounded by a pack of 12 Hounds, escape from 

 their clutches by leaping, and very fine dodging. The 

 Hare has been known, when escaping from the Hounds, 

 to have rushed against a Sheep unnoticed in its fright, 

 and to have been killed by the collision. The hind legs 

 of the Hare being so much longer than the fore, enables 

 it to travel with great speed, hnd thus elude the attacks 

 of its enemy, the dog. Its habit of crouching at times 

 on the ground is the reason of its being coursed with 

 two Greyhounds. In turning down Hares, 8 to 10 does 

 should be found to one buck. 



The Hare is about 2^ to 3 feet in length, and its 

 average weight is 7 or 8 lbs. An enormous English Hare 

 is recorded in the Field to have weighed 13^ lbs. The 

 teeth are highly developed, and are placed in a circular 

 socket in the skull. The upper lip is divided. The 

 hind feet are thickly padded. The general colour of the 

 fur is brownish-grey of a rather warm shade ; the cheek 

 is rather yellower, and the belly whiter. The under fur 

 is of a whitish hue. The ears are long, and tipped with 

 black. The tail is short, white underneath, and black 

 above. The eyes are large and dark. The fur is rather 

 short and thick. In winter the white of the belly 

 extends to the sides, and the ears, cheeks, and haunches 

 also become whiter, especially if the winter be severe, 

 and in northern regions the grey gradually, but wholly, 

 disappears. The average life of a Hare is said to be 

 from six to seven years. It is in best condition in 

 January and February. Black varieties, although very 

 rare, are sometimes found. One was shot in Suffolk in 

 1848, another was coursed and killed at Enville in 1853, 

 and several have been shot near Piugby. Parti-coloured 



